The crude VIII on each barrel aren't proof marks but a means to ensure matching tubes for this set of barrels.Īs for proof marks, the oval with E/LG/* inside makes it indeed Belgian. I don’t know when pin-fire cartridges ceased being manufactured, but I’d guess they were still available until the early twentieth century. The slot for the pin had to be welded up and a firing pin installed. Just as many muzzleloaders were converted to breechloaders-think of the Springfield trapdoor action or the British Snider-many pin-fires were converted to center-fire guns.
You can tell an unaltered pin-fire by the vertical slot in the breech extending to the top of the barrel (and, of course, the absence of a firing pin). The Great Exhibition of 1851 in London did much to publicize Lefaucheux’s system. Breechloaders had existed previously, but Casimir Lefaucheux’s 1835 invention of the pin-fire cartridge-a cylinder with a pin extending at right angles to the base which detonated a fulminate charge in the cartridge-quickly led to better breechloading systems and to the development first of rimfire and then of centerfire cartridges.ĭating pin-fire guns: the 1835 date of Lefaucheux’s invention gives us a convenient terminus a quo: if the pin-fire wasn’t invented until 1835, any pin-fire gun cannot be earlier than 1835. Pin-fires represent an important stage in the development of firearms. Greener's The Gun and Its Development, 9th edition (1910):ĭrue, yes, the absence of rifling means that this pin-fire was used for shot. Here's an illustration of early twentieth century Belgian proofs from W. But if the gun is a British or Continental breechloader, it should have proof marks on the water table of the receiver and on the barrel flats near the breech. The US never had a proof house, of course, so you have to rely on maker's names-which may well be deceptive versions of famous makers (Purdie for Purdey, for example)-and addresses (sometimes deceptive, as well). What I first look for are the marks indicating country of origin. As you might imagine, many, many Belgian guns were exported to other countries for resale. Belgian firms could produce whatever was wanted at whatever price point, and the wage structure made their prices lower than their competitors.
#A francotte liege belgium shotgun plus
That, plus its skilled work force and their comparatively low wages, quickly made Liège a center for gun making. īecause of its deposits of coal and iron ore, industrialization took place early in Belgium. To my knowledge, there isn't a book out that covers European proof marks: If someone knows about such a book, please add a comment with that information. I'll restrict myself therefore to saying something about gun making in Belgium and offering some proof marks. I've owned two Belgian side by sides and two Browning Superposed, so I guess I can say that I have some acquaintance with twentieth century ones, but unlike my posts on antique English shotguns I don't have an antique Belgian one at hand to describe. A distinctive gun for adding to a collection.A reader has asked me to say something about Belgian proof marks. Stock and forend with minor handling and storage marks. Triggers are crisp and the extractors function. Barrels retain 90% of their blue and the bores are bright.
The gun resides in a brown travel case with black leather Auguste Francotte trade label on the interior of the upper lid and green interior.
#A francotte liege belgium shotgun serial number
Interior iron metal is coin finish and the serial number "1" engraved. Exterior iron metal has a small flourish of scroll engraving. Field forend is built with Anson style push button release with serial number "1" on the interior wood. The smoky brown European walnut stock has a straight hand grip, point pattern checkering, and a horn buttplate. The guns serial number "1" is engraved on the top tang underneath the top lever. Action features a Greener cross bolt third fastener, Greener side safety on the left side of the action body, and three triggers protected by a blued trigger guard ending in a long tang. The right lock has a bird flying through a forest and the left lock has a pheasant landing in a field. The coin finish sidelock action is adorned with scrolls and game scene engraving. Chokes are Full, Improved Modified, and Full. Belgian proof marks on bottom of barrels. The right barrel near breech reads in gold "AUGUSTE FRANCOTTE" and the left barrel also in gold "BREVETTE A LIEGE". Barrels are fit with a tapered smooth concave game rib with extension and have a brass front bead. The barrels have 2 - 3/4" chambers and extractors. A unique 12 gauge shotgun with 28" blued steel monobloc barrels.
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